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LinkedIn Tips: The Five Characteristics of a Successful LinkedIn User

Are you looking for tips on how to use LinkedIn? LinkedIn may be one of the more under-utilized social media platforms available. It seems as though Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and even Google+ get more buzz than LinkedIn does. But LinkedIn, when used properly, can be one of the more successful platforms for driving traffic to your blog.

Not long ago, I took a look at my Google Analytics report to investigate where my traffic was coming from. As you can see in the chart to the right, I received more inbound traffic from LinkedIn than I did from Facebook!

Recognizing the value of LinkedIn got me thinking — what makes a good LinkedIn user? In other words, what characteristics distinguish a good LinkedIn user from a mediocre one?

With that in mind, I came up with the 5 characteristics outlined below. Hopefully, you’ll be able to apply them to your use of LinkedIn and benefit as a result.

Characteristic #1: The successful LinkedIn user doesn’t use the platform in isolation. One of the secrets to using LinkedIn is that they don’t use it in a silo. Instead, they use it in tandem with other sources of information. In other words, they use it as a central hub for their online activities. This is especially important for people in the B2B world since LinkedIn is geared towards B2B.

Characteristic #2: The successful LinkedIn user understands the Law of Circular Momentum. The Law of Circular Momentum is a lot like the snowball effect. Once a LinkedIn user starts using the platform on a regular basis, the opportunities provided build upon one another and expand at an exponential rate. In other words, the more you use LinkedIn, the more helpful it becomes.

Characteristic #3: The successful LinkedIn user doesn’t skate along the surface. My friend Lori Ruff, co-author of Rock The World with Your Online Presence and a Forbes Top 50 Social Media Power Influencer says, “LinkedIn is an immensely powerful platform. The mistake many people make is that they skate along the surface and don’t drill down to uncover all the ways it can be used to help their career experiences. A truly successful LinkedIn user continuously explores new and innovative ways to incorporate it into their daily lives.”

Characteristic #4: The successful LinkedIn user uses it as a foundation upon which to build a career. Phyllis Khare, co-author of Facebook Marketing All-in-One for Dummies, says, “As you move from one milestone to the next, it’s important to remember that LinkedIn can be used as a consistent foundation that reaches across each milestone. You’ll move, you’ll change jobs, you may even go back to school, but LinkedIn can be used as the one constant in your life that is consistently there from start to finish.”

Characteristic #5: The successful LinkedIn user embraces new aspects of the platform. By diving into new features as they’re introduced, you not only uncover new and innovative ways to use them, you also position yourself as a thought-leader to those around you. By adopting the new aspects of LinkedIn quickly, you get on people’s radar screens as a quick learner and a progressive thinker, both of which can help you stand out in the crowd.

Those are just a few ideas on how you can improve your use of LinkedIn. I hope you find them helpful. Let me know if I missed any in the comments section below!

Jamie! This is the best and most succinct description I’ve ever seen on mastering LinkedIn like a pro! Thanks for sharing!

http://twitter.com/DainDunston Dain Dunston

Jamie, this is really useful. I’ve been feeling I wasn’t getting deep enough into LinkedIn. Thanks!

http://www.60SecondMarketer.com Jamie Turner

Thanks, Lori. I take that as high praise coming from an expert like you. I’m honored.

Cheers, Jamie

http://www.60SecondMarketer.com Jamie Turner

Thanks, Dain. More posts like these to come!

Best,
Jamie

Leroy

Hi Jamie, how come I can’t find u on linkedin?

http://twitter.com/BRAND_WOMAN Helena Pieslinger

Your words are so true! LinkedIn is really a central hub in social media today.Thanks for sharing.

http://www.60SecondMarketer.com Jamie Turner

Thanks, Helena!

http://www.60SecondMarketer.com Jamie Turner

Hi, Leroy. I’m there. Been there all along. If you click this link, it’ll take you to my profile: http://is.gd/MxQaI2

http://www.facebook.com/douglas.stout.5 Douglas Stout

Do not think this shows well for you. . Just a well written “info-mercial”

http://www.60SecondMarketer.com Jamie Turner

Hi, Douglas —

Thanks for your input. I’m always interested in getting constructive feedback. I’m not entirely sure what you mean when you say it’s an infomercial. I’m not selling anything in the post. Can you explain what you mean?

In advance, thanks for your time.

Cheers,
Jamie

http://www.callbox.com.my/ Christine Steffensen

This is really a helpful ideas on improving for LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a way to connect with other people and network. I hope we can able to apply them and can benefit from it. I know that LinkedIn can help us to succeed by using it properly.

http://www.60SecondMarketer.com Jamie Turner

Christine — I’m glad you liked the post. If you’d like to join the 60 Second Marketer LinkedIn Group, you can do so here: http://is.gd/m1lJp8

Thanks,
Jamie

http://onlinebz.com/ Susan Wowe

I am still on the surface right now. Thanks for this insightful list.

http://www.60SecondMarketer.com Jamie Turner

Glad it was helpful! Thanks, Jamie

Juan Elizondo

This is critical, particularly for young professionals and Hispanics, who have low rates of LI penetration.